The latest rugby news stories from around the world
Here are the latest rugby headlines on Monday, September 15.
Welsh players contact exile
Wales outside-half Sam Davies has revealed he has already been contacted by Welsh players considering moving to France amid the growing uncertainty around the game here.
The WRU’s proposal to cut the number of professional teams would see the number of places for pro players in Wales diminish, while even some of the top stars are said to be fed up with the constant turmoil the game finds itself in. A number of Wales internationals are out of contract at the end of the season, with clubs in France and England sure to be monitoring the situation.
Davies’ career has reignited since moving to Pro D2 side Grenoble, where he has been joined by George North, Tomas Francis, Owen Lane and Tyler Morgan in the French second tier.
The likes of Adam Beard at Montpellier, Racing 92’s Will Rowlands, Bayonne’s Gareth Anscombe in Bayonne and Pau’s Carwyn Tuipulotu are all playing in the Top 14 this coming season.
Davies told the BBC: “My phone has already been going and there’s no doubt that more players will be interested. It’s not just the money, it’s the security.
“I’m good friends with players and have been asking them if they are okay because they just don’t know what is going to happen.
“Some change seems inevitable and that’s sometimes painful, but it’s time to end these sagas.
“I am super-happy that I moved. I needed to be part of a winning team and playing for a reason.
“I have got that at Grenoble and have experienced some incredible highs but also some of the worst emotions because it matters so much. That comes from playing for a community that really rallies behind the teams.”
Rugby World Cup star faces ban over ‘biting’
France player Axelle Berthoumieu faces a huge ban after World Rugby’s independent citing commissioner stepped in following the biting allegation that has marred the Rugby World Cup.
Ireland captain Sam Monaghan spoke to the match referee after team-mate Aoife Wafer alleged she was bitten during her side’s heartbreaking World Cup quarter-final defeat to France.
It appeared as though Wafer, who was playing for the first time at the tournament, had been bitten on the arm by French back row Axelle Berthoumieu as Ireland won a penalty turnover in the second half of their last-eight exit.
At the time of the incident, Ireland looked on course to reach the semi-finals for the only the second time in their history, leading 13-0 before France stormed back in the second half to triumph 18-13.
“I spoke to the referee,” said skipper Monaghan. “Aoife told me, I didn’t see it myself, but I spoke to the referee and asked them.”
Those complaints were not acted up by the officials, sparking outcry from fans and pundits. But Berthoumieu’s case will be considered by a disciplinary committee today, with the player set to be summoned to a hearing on Tuesday.
Speaking on BBC Sport, former England World Cup winner Maggie Alphonsi said: “I hate seeing that in the game. When it comes to a situation like that it’s very clear, she should be punished for that.
“It’s sad because we’ve been celebrating the women’s game in this World Cup.
“It’s such a shame that the headlines will be dominated by the incident by a player who didn’t need to do that.”
England swipe at ‘cynical’ Scotland
By Duncan Bech, PA Rugby Union Correspondent
England head coach John Mitchell will seek clarification from World Rugby after criticising Scotland’s “cynical” tactics in Sunday’s 40-8 World Cup quarter-final victory.
The Red Roses set-up a semi-final against France next Saturday after their pack took charge at a rain-swept Ashton Gate, with four of their six tries supplied by forwards.
But Mitchell insisted the win would have been even more emphatic had Scotland not undermined their set-piece through methods he claimed were illegal, declaring “the game deserves better than that”.
“We dominated territory and built pressure on them. We found weakness and cynical actions in their set-piece and we went for the jugular there. We probably left a little bit out there as well,” Mitchell said.
“We need to talk to World Rugby about understanding when teams are so cynical why don’t we get awarded penalty tries sometimes. That’s something that I’ll through the right channels for.
“There was double sacking in the line-out when there should be single sacking. And there were repeated infringements at scrum time.
“The whole second half slowed down at scrum time. The game deserves better than that. Look how dominant we were at scrum time, our maul and scrum were superior and we should be rewarded for that.”
France edged into the semi-finals with an 18-13 victory over Ireland at Sandy Park and England will be confident of extending their dominance over their Six Nations rivals.
“We respect them hugely. They got themselves out of a very difficult situation today (Sunday) and in very difficult conditions. They’ll be energetic for us,” Mitchell said.
England expect to have a clean bill of health for Thursday’s team announcement with Ellie Kildunne (concussion) and Hannah Botterman (back) on course to be available for selection.
